Atlas of Common Pain Syndromes, 5th Edition

By: Steven D. Waldman, MD, JD

ISBN: 9780443111051

Publication Date: October 24, 2023

Reviewer: Jennifer E. Thuener, MD (University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita)

Description

The book is an anatomically based reference for common pain-generating diagnoses. It is an efficient guide for medical personnel to reference when generating a differential diagnosis as it is organized by area of pain. The previous edition was published in 2019. This new edition has additional chapters.

Purpose

The book aims to be a reference source for medical providers to broaden differential diagnoses beyond the most likely or most common diagnosis for common areas of pain. This is a worthwhile goal, as some of the less common diagnoses reviewed are seen in clinics by primary care physicians. It achieves this goal with a brief overview of multiple common painful syndromes based on anatomic locations, a brief description of the syndromes, signs and symptoms, the differential diagnoses, and workups. This allows primary care physicians to consider these less common pain syndromes in the care of their patients.

Audience

The book’s primary audience is clinicians. In addition, this book would be helpful for primary care providers, including residents, nonphysician providers, and physicians. The author is an anesthesiologist and well versed in pain syndromes and provides a quick reference for multiple less-considered pain syndromes that will help primary care providers keep their differential diagnoses open.

Features

This book is a well-organized reference book arranged by anatomic location, such as: headache pain syndromes, facial pain syndromes, or hand pain syndromes. It gives a brief overview of each diagnosis, including background about the syndrome, signs and symptoms, testing, differential diagnosis, treatment, and common pitfalls. There are multiple illustrations, figures, or radiologic images for each syndrome. This book provides only brief descriptions and does not go into depth about any particular syndrome. However, the book does provide recommended readings if clinicians need a deeper dive.

Assessment

The book is a laudable addition to the library of any primary care provider. It enhances the differential diagnosis of pain by anatomic location. This is a quick reference that provides a general overview and workup of pain syndromes that may be afflicting the patient and gives references to the clinician for further reading. This edition contains 13 more chapters than the previous edition, which is an important update and justifies the new edition.

©Doody’s Review Service, 2024, Jennifer E. Thuener, MD (University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita) Doody’s Score: 93 – 4 Stars!

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